confession
Pronunciation
  • IPA: /kənˈfɛʃən/
Noun

confession

  1. The open admittance of having done something (especially something bad).
    Without the real murderer's confession, an innocent person will go to jail.
    • c. 1599–1602, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene i]:
      With a crafty madness keeps aloof, / When we would bring him on to some confession / Of his true state.
  2. A formal document providing such an admission.
    He forced me to sign a confession!
  3. (Christianity) The disclosure of one's sins to a priest for absolution. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is now termed the sacrament of reconciliation.
    I went to confession and now I feel much better about what I had done.
    • c. 1591–1595, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, (please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals)]:
      (First Folio ed.)
      Hauing diſpleaſ'd my Father, to Lawrence Cell, / To make confeſſion, and to be abſolu'd.
  4. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
    • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, Romans 10:10 ↗:
      With the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
  5. A formula in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith.
Related terms Translations Translations
  • Russian: призна́ние
Translations Translations
  • Russian: вероиспове́дание



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